The next day at school Riku was walking a little funny. "You okay Riku?" Sora asked as her and Riku were walking to cheerleading practice. The silverette just smiled and nodded. However the spikey brunette didn't buy it for a second. Riku was limping slightly and she knew that Riku spent the night at Axel's. Axel had a reputation of being the biggest pervert in school. Sora was starting to plan Axel's very painful death if she found out that he laid a finger on her precious best friend. "Riku Sora hurry up its almost time for practice!" Called Namine and Kairi simultaneously waving to their fellow cheerleaders.
Riku was the captain of the squad and Sora was the co-captain. Their team was three time champions of the national cheerleading competition. This year however they were going for the international tittle since it was Riku and Sora's senior year. Riku was already accepted to the most expensive the cheerleading college in the world. Sora however was going to college to be a physical educational teacher. She loved helping the gym teacher now so she wants to be one herself, and her father couldn't be more proud of his only child.
As practice wore on the rest of the student population started to arrive. Riku called for a break when she saw Axel and Roxas standing on the first row of the bleachers. Axel was holding two cups of coffee, nice and hot. Riku went over and took one of the cups from Axel's hand. She giggled as she took a sip of the hot liquid. Axel sipped his own hot cup of coffee. The two lovers just watched each other with hidden desire. Roxas and Sora watched on with confusion written in their eyes and on their faces. "What brings you to our practice Axel?" Questioned the silverette as she finished her coffee.
Axel just laughed and finished his coffee. "I thought you'd like some coffee silly girl. That's what friends do ya nut." Replied the redhead. Riku just leaned over and poked him in the forehead. She turned to Sora and motioned that they needed to get back to practice. They waved goodbye to Axel and Roxas and walked back over to the other girls. Practice dragged on till for another hour. They had to win tonight's national tournament to get into the international tournament. The entire day the girls were nervous for the international competition. It started at eight o'clock that night in the park. They have a pretty big park. It's large enough to hold 1000 people.
"Riku will you relax you'll win it for sure you've won it every year for the past three years. So don't worry about it so much you're undefeated." Axel encouraged during lunch. Riku smiled and leaned on him like she always did when she was trying to relax. Axel started to rub her shoulders. Terra came over and sat next to Riku. "Hello Riku are you ok?" Asked Ansem Heartless. Ansem has long slightly spikey white hair and light brown skin. He's the football team's star quarterback. Ansem is also a well-known pervert. Riku can't stand football players. They're selfish jerks who only think of themselves especially the quarterbacks. Riku decided to ignore him. Axel glared daggers at Ansem. "Go away Ansem you're so not wanted at this table." Commented Sora as she flicked a piece sliced pickle at his face. It hit him in the forehead.
Ansem took the pickle off his forehead and glared at Sora. He never really cared for the brunette. She was too childish in his opinion and was way too naïve. Sora trusted a lot of people but one person she would never trust is Ansem she could read him like a book so she knew what he was really after when he walked up to Riku. She could see it the first time they talked to him. "Ansem you really should leave." Riku demanded. She relaxed more into Axel's message. Riku was starting to fall asleep. Axel shook her a little and laughed when she let out a small whine. Ansem got up and walked away. He was pissed that Riku would tell him to leave. /She will pay for this!/ Ansem screamed in his head.
Riku snuggled into Axel's chest. She was so tired she was ready to fall asleep right there in the noisy cafeteria. Axel gently shook her shoulder and kept trying to keep her awake. Axel's face red like his own flame like hair. Roxas and Sora started laughing at Axel's situation. When Riku wanted to sleep not much could keep her awake. Xemnas Heartless came over and tapped Riku on the shoulder. Riku sat up and smiled at the school principle. " I'd like to wish you and your team the best of luck tonight I'll send my secretary in my place to tell me how it went. Good luck and lets home you bring home the gold for the fourth year in a row." Xemnas said before walking away to go talk to his son Ansem. Riku groaned and put head in her hands. Riku was really feeling the pressure now. Xemnas expecting her to bring home the national title and the international title. Her team was the best so far she just prayed that it would be good enough to win.
Sora leaned forward and petted her head. "Don't worry we'll win both nationals and internationals." Sora stated confidentially. Axel and Roxas nodded in agreement. Together they said. "And we'll be there to cheer you on." Riku smiled at her friends words of hope. She gave them all a hug before gathering her stuff and walking away. Riku and Sora had permission to skip last period so the cheerleaders could practice their routine for the competition tonight. They practiced till 4:30 PM. After they showered and changed into their cheerleading outfits that they only wore to games and competitions. Riku was a nervous wreck by the time 7:30 PM came.
Axel was rubbing her shoulders to try and help her relax. Sora brought her a cup of coffee and patted Riku's head and sat next to her. Riku leaned on Axel and slowly sipped her coffee. Saix came over and stood in front of the group of teenagers. "Ms. Darkwing the whole school counting on you and your team you better not let them down." The older woman stated then walked away. Mrs. Lunar's statement just made Riku even more nervous. Looking at the crowd Riku relaxed when she saw her father Sephiroth and Rikku Darkwing siting in the stands. Sora looked around and saw her parents Cloud and Tiffa Striffe sitting with Riku's parents. Sephiroth and Cloud had been friends in high school so it's only natural for their daughters to be friends as well.
By the time 8PM came everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats and couldn't wait for the whole thing to start. Up first was the Radiant Flowers from Radiant Gardens. They did a perky and graceful routine to the song Every Time We Touch by Cascada. The judges gave them 7 out of 10. The highest score possible was a 10. Next was the Twilight Strugglers from Twilight Town. Their routine was full of power and strength to the song Scream & Shout by will. , their score was 7 out of 10. Then it was the Hollow Screams from Hollow Bastion. Their routine was smooth and flawless to the song Numb by Linkin Park. Their score was 8 out of 10. The fourth team up was the Traverse Heartless from Traverse Town. The routine they performed was sleek and sexy to the song Naughty Girl by Beyoncé. Then finally it was Riku's team the Graceful Destiny from Destiny Island. Their routine was shy innocent yet at the same time a little bit naughty to the song Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani. The judges decided that their score was a perfect 10 out of 10.
Riku couldn't have been more thrilled with first place and a perfect score they qualify for the international competition. Everyone was so excited that they failed to notice that the captain of the Radiant Flowers was glaring daggers at them. Marluxia Rose made her way over the champions and tapped Riku on the shoulder. Riku only turned around to find the face of one of her rivals. "Good luck in the internationals one of my friends is in internationals and her team always wins internationals. Watch out for the Lightning Rods from Never Was High School." Marluxia warned her before going back over to her own team.
Riku had heard of the Lightning Rods before but she never thought that her team would actually have to beat them to win internationals. Rumor has it that the captain Larxene Bolt has a lightning sharp tongue and even sharper and hotter temper. The thought of Larxene scared Riku but the thought to actually meet her scared Riku to her very core. "Riku are you ok?" Axel asked putting his hand on her shoulder. Riku smiled and nodded. She hugged him tightly. Riku put the thought of Larxene out of her head and was just gonna enjoy this moment of happiness.
That night the whole cheerleading squad and a few friends went to the local dance club to celebrate their national victory. The club was loud and active. It seemed like almost all of their school population was inside. Axel pulled Riku onto the dance floor and started to dance with her. Axel was a pretty good dancer he knew how to touch her so lightly that she was practically begging for more of his touches. Roxas put an arm around Sora's waist and motioned to the dance floor. Sora smiled and nodded followed Roxas onto the dance floor. They started to dance next to Axel and Riku. They were just starting to have fun when suddenly a fire broke out somewhere in the club. Soon the whole club was catching fire. Axel and Roxas made sure that the girls got out safely. "Roxas stay here I'm gonna go help more people get out!" Axel yelled running back into the building.
Axel had just headed back inside after sending out a group of five and the roof started to collapse. Riku screamed for Axel to get out. The whole roof caved in as the cops and fire department got there. Roxas was holding her back. "Please save my brother!" Roxas screamed at the cops. Riku fell to her knees crying. When she looked up she saw the cops carrying someone on a stretcher. He was slightly burned and was tall. Riku could see his piercing green eyes. She knew at that moment the person she was looking at was Axel. She screamed his name and ran over but the cops held her back.
"Ma'am please you need to relax and stay back." Demanded the cop. Riku just kept struggling against the cop. She started to cry against him. She watched as Axel was loaded into the ambulance and was taken away. Sora knelt next to Riku and held her close. She whispered "Everything would be alright. Don't worry Axel's a strong guy he'll pull through this no problem Ri" They all hoped that it would be alright.